Food for Education (F4E) is an African-led, women-led social enterprise committed to using technology, smart operations, and logistics to provide affordable, high-quality meals that improve nutrition and educational outcomes for primary school children in Kenya.
We are rapidly expanding, and our goal is to scale models that ensure efficient supply chain management and sustainable sourcing to continue lowering the cost of school lunches. Since 2012, we have delivered over 40 million meals and are on track to reach our goal of serving at least 1,000,000 public primary school students in Kenya every day by 2027.
Our Values
At F4E, our core values shape our mission and interactions:
- Build with excellence and curiosity – We embrace innovation and continuously improve to achieve the best results.
- Be the change you seek – We believe in shared responsibility and continuous growth.
- We do what we say and say what we do – We foster an ownership mentality.
- Ask why and commit – We encourage open dialogue, respectful questioning, and purposeful commitment.
Position Overview
The Project Associate will be responsible for overseeing, coordinating, and supporting maintenance, repair, and expansion projects across multiple decentralized kitchens within school campuses in Kenya. Reporting to the Project Manager, the Project Associate ensures all project activities align with F4E’s safety, quality, and efficiency standards.
As a mid-level leader, the Project Associate will supervise Junior Facility Associates, providing training, guidance, and operational support while aligning efforts with organizational objectives.
Key Responsibilities
Project Coordination & Execution
- Manage multiple school-based decentralized kitchen facilities under the direction of the Project Manager.
- Plan and coordinate small- to medium-scale improvement projects and repairs, ensuring compliance with F4E’s design and safety standards.
- Develop clear project timelines, resource needs, and work plans, collaborating with architects, engineers, contractors, and the internal Expansion team.
- Conduct regular site visits to verify quality, monitor progress, and identify or mitigate risks, escalating significant issues to the Project Manager.
Facility Maintenance & Repairs
- Oversee routine maintenance and repair activities at decentralized kitchens, ensuring minimal disruption to school operations.
- Implement preventive maintenance strategies, guide staff on best practices, and coordinate with school administrators and contractors for timely repairs.
- Maintain documentation (permits, work orders, contracts, etc.) to ensure compliance with safety protocols and local regulations.
Team Leadership & Mentoring
- Supervise and mentor Junior Facility Associates, delegating tasks, overseeing performance, and ensuring clear communication of project objectives.
- Identify training gaps and coordinate upskilling or knowledge-sharing sessions to build technical expertise and foster a collaborative, high-performance environment.
- Model F4E’s ownership mentality by coaching direct reports in effective stakeholder management, problem-solving, and accountability.
Stakeholder Management
- Serve as a point of contact for school leadership, kitchen staff, and contractors at each decentralized kitchen location.
- Work closely with the community and operations team to support projects related to kitchen setup.
- Maintain strong working relationships with internal teams (Community and Operations) and external partners to facilitate efficient project delivery.
- Communicate regularly with the Project Manager and other senior stakeholders regarding milestones, budget updates, and potential challenges.
Budgeting & Cost Control
- Develop cost estimates for maintenance and minor construction projects, submitting detailed proposals to the Project Manager for approval.
- Track project expenditures against allocated budgets, identifying variances and recommending corrective measures to maintain financial efficiency.
- Ensure all procurement and contractual processes align with F4E policies and guidelines.
Quality Assurance & Risk Management
- Conduct quality checks on all ongoing facility projects, confirming adherence to defined specifications and standards.
- Maintain a risk register for assigned projects, anticipating potential issues (e.g., regulatory changes, material shortages) and taking action to mitigate them.
- Investigate and resolve or escalate non-compliance issues, ensuring timely correction and future prevention.
Reporting & Continuous Improvement
- Prepare routine status reports on project progress, facility conditions, and budget performance for the Project Manager.
- Document lessons learned and propose procedural enhancements to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and optimize overall project outcomes.
- Contribute to organizational best practices by sharing insights and innovations identified on the job.
Desired Candidate Profile
- A Bachelor’s degree in Civil or Mechanical Engineering.
- 3+ years of relevant experience in facilities management, construction oversight, or related project coordination roles.
- Demonstrated experience managing teams or direct reports, ideally in a fast-paced operational environment with limited supervision.
- Familiarity with working in a rural setting and/or projects within a rural and remote environment is an added advantage.
- Familiarity with building codes, safety regulations, and local regulatory requirements in Kenya.
- Excellent project management skills, including project scheduling, stakeholder coordination, and resource allocation.
- Strong communication and leadership abilities, with a proven track record of collaborating across diverse teams.
- Proficiency in project management tools (e.g., MS Project, Trello) and standard office software.
- Commitment to F4E’s mission and values, with a mindset of continuous improvement and innovation.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Food for Education is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances.
Career Growth and Development
At F4E, we foster a culture of continuous learning and professional development. Employees benefit from:
- Weekly check-ins with their manager.
- Regular performance feedback.
- Career reviews every six months to discuss aspirations and growth opportunities.
- Opportunities to shape a growing organization and build a long-term, rewarding career.
Application Deadline: 13th April 2025
We aim to contact all applicants, but due to the high volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you do not hear from us within two weeks, your application may not have been successful this time. However, we encourage you to keep an eye on our job board for future opportunities that match your skills and experience.
How to Apply To apply for this exciting opportunity, please submit your application before 13th April 2025.
